How to make a turban headband

You know those fabulous women who can wrap a scarf around their head and look all kinds of chic? I am not one of them. But I can cheat. This fabulous turban headband gives the same kind of look. It’s a quick sew project that gets a bit addictive.

You need:

50cm of 112cm width fabric – lightweight and silky fabrics work best. I have used tencel for mine. Bulkier fabrics won’t work. 50cm will give you enough to make two headbands. Would be very sweet for a mum and daughter matching combo.

This pattern. Note that this is an A3 size pattern but you can print onto A4 and stick the printed pieces together.

16cm of 2cm wide elastic. This is the amount I use – but I do have a large head. You might want to trim back to suit your head size.

Cotton thread in matching colour to your fabric

Roll-hem foot for your sewing machine

To make:

Fold your fabric twice over, so that there are four layers of fabric.

Cut out the pattern pieces as instructed.

For the two larger pieces (these will become the top of the headband), roll hem the long two sides.

Fold the smaller piece, fold it in half length-ways, with the right sides facing each other. Sew along the top. Turn back the right way round. Press so that the seam sits flat in the middle. This will be the underside of the elastic casing.

Fold the two larger pieces in half, and then half again.

Cross them over evenly and fold. Sew the short ends down.

Fluff out the fabric so that you have a fuller width.

Sew one end of the elastic to one short side.

Fold in the tops of the elastic casing piece and press.

Slide the casing piecing over the elastic and tuck in the sides of the longer head-band piece so that it sits neatly. Sew down.